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for searching only. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;CHAPTER VII
THE GRAMMAR SCHOOLS OF ENGLAND
ABOUT 1530
IT IS A LUCKY ACCIDENT that Wolsey preserved for us in his directions for Ipswich the early curriculum at Paul's, for even at the time he was founding his school certain changes in organization were taking place. By an equally lucky accident, we have also two early copies of the Eton curriculum and one of that at Winchester. Edmund Flower had founded a school at Cuckfield, and by his will of July II, 152I provided an endowment. Then by an indenture of October I, 1528, William Spicer provided for an increased endowment. Among other things, he stipulated that the schoolmaster,
shall teach the scholars in the said school grammar after the form order and usage used and taught in the Grammar School at Eton near Windsor from form to form according to the Acts and rules there made kept and used, and to keep the houres of learning in the said school as near as he can.'
Consequently, a copy of the Eton curriculum is attached in accordance with this provision. It is thus regularly dated 1528. But since Spicer is only supplementing the foundation of Flower a few years before, it is quite possible that the school was already on the Eton model, and hence that this is the Eton curriculum some years before 1528, though the grammatical texts of Whittinton prescribed in it indicate a date hardly earlier than 1520.
A second copy of the Eton curriculum was made for Saffron Walden about 1530. The school here had been founded in 1525 with the proviso that it should follow "the ordre and use of techyng gramer in the scolys of Wynchester and Eton." In pursuance of this order. the authorities had about 1530 procured the time tables of these schools.2 The two copies of the Eton curriculum supplement each other nicely to establish quite fully the school routine, on which the Paul's-Ipswich system affords little light. The Winchester curriculum also furnishes a great deal of varied information. From these four curricula, coming as they do so close together, it is possible to see at
Carlisle, Grammar Schools, Vol. II, pp. S94-597 has printed the complete document, but with many errors. Leach has also summarized these statutes with corrections in The Victoria History of the County of Sussex, Vol. II, pp. 416-419; and in The Victoria History of the County of Buckingham, Vol. II, pp. 176-178. They have been reprinted from the original in Etoniana, July 19, 1911. This reprint I quote, omitting the editor's emendations where they are incorrect or doubtful. 2 Leach, Educational Charters, pp. 448 ff.
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